What happens when a motorcycle mechanic, a leather craftsman and a student sit down totally hammered at an event with the dream to organize a motorcycle and art show?
When Vinz, Mario and Lukas first got together to talk about Art and Wheels Basel, they had no idea what would happen on that one day in May 2015 in Basel. They put in all their energy and ideas to organize what was to become the first ever edition of Art and Wheels Basel. Bringing together different subcultures like motorcycles, skateboarding, Punk Rock, Hot Rodding, BMX, art, and a million other things was the initial goal of the exhibition that was the first ever of its kind in Switzerland. Going away from traditional biker imaginery the show wasn’t just about beards, skulls, beer bellys and leather jackets. It was and still is about the art and craftmanship it takes to build a motorcycle and handle it on the wide open road. And we can tell you, it all worked out! With over 1’600 spectators, bikes parked all over the place outside of the venue in „Kleinbasel“ – the pulsating area of their home town – and about 100 motorcycles on the ride-out on Sunday, the first edition of Art and Wheels Basel was a success we never dreamed about.

To top it off for 2016, we’re not just bringing VIP guests from all around the globe to Switzerland, we’re also trying to get some bikes from the USA shipped here. We want to present you some of the biggest names of the international custom bike scene as well as the young and wild talented newcomers. A lot of these people have become close friends of ours during the last years and we want you to meet them and get to know them and spend the weekend not just looking at their stuff but spending it WITH them, as equals. We all party together Friday night at the imfamous DicE party, talk about bikes and art on Saturday’s show and go ride motorcycles together on Sunday. There will be no restricted VIP areas at Art and Wheels Basel, we’re all equals sharing the same love for motorcycles and are all here to have a good time together and enjoy all the beauty and madness some folks started decades ago.
We’re not just talking about this vibe, you could really feel it at the first edition of Art and Wheels Basel. Just ask our invited guests, spectators and our sponsors from the last show. Everything worked like a Swiss watch and our guests were happy attending what they called „one of the best organized shows ever“. People would really feel that this event is not about profit and there are no vendors selling the same stuff you can get at every other event.
And well, it’s no secret that some show from overseas was a big role model for Art and Wheels Basel. We just love the vibe they created over there and it was a big goal of ours to bring this ambiance to Europe.

Show Line Up for 2016 –

Builders:

Max Schaaf, 4Q Custom Conditioning, USA

Cross country riding pro skater Max Schaaf builds some of the most iconic choppers and still remains a humble philosopher. Max is one of the top builders these days with his very own aproach and taste to do stuff. We’re honoured to have him as our guest in 2016.

Josh Kurpius, USA

Josh Kurpius is well known for his over-the-top motorcycle photography but few people perceive him as a bike builder. We want to change this and will, for the first time in Europe, fly in his iconic Locust chopper from the States to show you the workhorse of this fine gentleman.

 Paul Cox, Paul Cox Industries, USA

As a motorcycle builder, leather craftsman, metalsmith,knife maker, painter and inventor, Paul Cox is, aboveall an artist par excellence. Whatever he touches turns
into an innovative piece of art on the highest level with a very unique touch that clearly identifies it as a Paul Cox original. It is a huge honor for us to bring this legend and long time part of the New York City chopper scene to our show with his Berserker Panhead which is one of the most iconic bikes he ever built.

Chris Richardson, L.A. Speed Shop, USA

Every bike Chris builds reflects his out of the box thinking and amazing attention to detail. He has earned the respect of his customers and peers as a
quality guy who does quality work. Having his bikes featured on the covers of Easyriders, DicE and countless other magazines he is recognized as a
leading innovative builder in the industry. It’s a huge honor not only to bring him to Europe in person but also ship over his amazing Knucklehead chopper he built for Sailor Jerry Rum.

Uwe Ehinger, Ehinger Kraftrad, Germany

„Kraftrad“ because „Motorrad“ usually means mass production, Uwe intentionally builds motorcycles that are unique pieces of art. With his artistic eye and phenomenal skills he builds bikes that are rideable pieces of art. His recent build „Speedster“, which is an incredibly beautiful and artisanal bike, even won Best Flathead at Born Free 7 this year.

Andy Niemi, Flying Choppers, Finland

If you look at Andy’s choppers, you might think that these things are only built to look good and not to ride. But Andy wouldn’t be Andy if he wouldn’t prove the opposite. He relentlessly rides those bikes all around Europe, rain or shine. That’s excactly the reason why he’s part of Art and Wheels, to prove that art is something you can touch and actually use. And to top it all off, Andy will exclusively bring two totally unseen bikes to the show.

Mc Sands Motor Shop, Switzerland

If you’re into old Harleys, you sure have heard of Mc Sands Motor Shop. Located in Switzerland, they’re THE source for rebuilding engines and customizing old bikes. And once they’re not in the shop, they ride those old bikes anywhere around the globe.

Stuff from Hell, Germany

When it comes to deciding what looks good on a traditional chopper, Markus sure has taste and he knows how to build it the right way. Clean and neotraditional some people would say – we just love his shit. His black Knucklehead will be the perfect addition to the wide arrange of style of bikes present at the show.

Nobbi Wolf-Sekine, W&W AG, Germany

Nobbi has a already been a part of Art and Wheels Basel 2015 and for the 2016 he brings a super rare 1927 Harley Davidson JD Boardtrack Racer with him. This bike represent pure art on two wheels that can also go fast!

CCCP Motorcycles, Schweiz

Handbuilt motorcycles that not only look good but handle even better, that’s excactly what Coni and his crew produce. Real choppers from real people, no mass production and no fancy attitude: Straight forward, great craftmanship and honestly built for eternity and back.

Rob, Eat Dust Clothing, Belgium

Producing some of the best denim products on the market, Rob hast been one half of the infamous Eat Dust duo since day one and part ofthe chopper scene for a long time. To prove that Eat Dust products are not only for the fancy
looking hipster but for riding as well, Rob will bring his amazing Ironhead to the show.

Christian Voss

Christian will bring one of his amazing japanese choppers to the show. Because of builders like him, japanese bikes get more and more accepted in the chopper scene and are slowly becoming an important part of the European scene since they’re just plain beautiful. With one of his builds Christian won best japanese chopper at Kustom Kulture Forever in Germany in 2015.

Marc Baier, Switzerland

As organizer of the imfamous Oil Leak Rumble in Switzerland Marc also is a craftsman to the bone. Representing all of his skills he built this great Panhead chopper. He’s one of those so called „young and wild ones“ in the scene, not building in a fancy shop somewhere on the beach in California but in his own backyard garage, and we do greatly appreciate this. Also he’s a huge supporter of our show from day one.

Vinzenz Guntern, Switzerland

Another young and very wild one, Vinz works as a motorcycle mechanic for Harley Davidson. But since new bikes are boring to work on, he just shipped this Panhead chopper over from the States to tear it down and build it up again. His Softail chopper was alredy shot by famous Michael Lichter at our 2015 show and complimented by Yaniv from Powerplant. We’re already looking forward to what this talented young builder will create out of that Pan.

Artists:

Franz Venzin, Solid Pleasure, Switzerland
Working for countless big brands and being the „main lense“ for Breitling the last 14 years, Franz has been a professional photographer for ages with an amazing international portfolio and huge reputation. For Art and Wheels Basel, he will bring some of his amazing photo work from his rocking side project „Solid Pleasure“ where he intimately captures the kustom kulture scene from all around the globe.

Josie Perez, USA

Being a model, an actress, and above all a badass photographer, Josie still remains a humble and charming person. Relentlessly traveling the world, she captures intimate moments and creates beautiful images that truly reflect the characters of the people she has in front of her lens and we`re totally looking forward to seeing what she wants to share with us.

Mitch Cotie, USA

Mitch Cotie’s visions are sometimes deeply frightening and sometimes exhilarant. Combining stuff that usually doesn’t really belong together, Mitch creates images with such an intense expression
that it would be a shame not having him over for the show. As its a total rarity that Mitch attends any exhibitions or shows, we’re totally stoked and excited that he’ll be with us at Art and Wheels Basel 2016 and cant wait to see his amazing work live and in colour.

Christopher C. Galley, Devil Chicken Design, USA

Christopher is an artist based in Buffalo, New York. He is deeply influenced by the blue-collar attitude of Buffalo and the period he grew up in: The 70s and 80s.
His art combines the best of both worlds, digital and analog that together form his unique art and make him the artist he is. His style is a wild mixture of classical painting, street art, collage and probably a thousand things more we wouldn’t understand even if he showed us.
We’re super happy to bring this amazingly talented artist to Europe to show us some of his unique art.

Eddie Hara, Indonesia

Eddie Hara is a street artist from Indonesia living in Basel. His work is vibrant, colorful and bright and often combines music and art in a unique way. Always on the lookout for new things he is a great addition the current line-up.

El Balenko, Poland

Lukasz didn’t invent pinstriping but he definitely brought it one big step forward. You just recognize his unique style wherever you see one of his works. If you want any of your precious helmets, parts or whatever pinstriped, bring it to the show, he will be happy to beautify them.

Ettore „Blaster“ Callegaro, Italy

Blaster, panheadriding member of the Sinners Nomads, you already know from the 2015 show. And since he’s such a fine gentleman and a true man of art he will come to Basel again in 2016 to make your stuff more beautiful than it ever was.

Schwarz Iron’art

Daniel Schwarz disposes of a phenomenal sense of form and proportions. With every imaginable metal he creates unique and beautiful sculptures that definitely raise the bar of craftmanship at our event. As a show participant in 2015 he definitely showed his world-class artistry to our spectators and therefore were very proud that hell be part of Art and Wheels Basel again.